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right.”
    “Scars?” Bryce was suddenly concerned. He hadn’t thought about the possibility of scarring. He’d always prided himself on his good looks. He shifted his position to look at his own reflection in the dresser mirror, and the image that stared back at him actually unnerved him a little. His head and face were mostly swathed in bandages. “How badly am I going to be scarred?”
    Dr. Murray also knew what a vain man Bryce was, but he didn’t want to lie to him. That would only make things worse when the time came to take off the bandages. It was better to be forthright from the beginning. “The right side of your face had several deep cuts. There will definitely be some scarring there.”
    Bryce swore under his breath.
    “The best thing for you right now is rest. Is there anything more I can do to help you?”
    Bryce looked up at the doctor, all the hatred he was feeling in his hardened gaze. “No.”
    “I’ll be back to check on you in a day or two, unless I hear from you.” The doctor gathered up his supplies and prepared to leave.
    Bryce said nothing more. He was just glad when the doctor was finally gone.
    He sat on the bed staring at his own reflection in the mirror for a time, until a knock at his bedroom door interrupted his dark thoughts of how he was going to seek his revenge.
    “Come in.”
    The maid opened the door to inquire, “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?” She tried to mask her reaction to the sight of him so heavily bandaged, but she couldn’t hide it completely.
    Bryce saw that she was frightened by him, and her fear infuriated him even more. He was used to charming women with his slick good looks, not scaring them. “Yes. There’s something you can do for me—”
    “What is it?”
    “Bring me a bottle of whiskey.”
    “Yes, sir.” She hastened to do as he’d bid.
    As he sat alone in his bedroom drinking, Bryce made his plans. First thing in the morning he was going to find Destiny, and he was going to pay her back for what she’d done. If it hadn’t hurt so much, Bryce would have smiled at the thought of how much he was going to enjoy his vengeance. He kept drinking until the liquor had numbed his pain enough so he could sleep. Morning couldn’t come soon enough as far as he was concerned.

Chapter Six
    Lane was saddled up and riding out at sunup. He had a lot of miles to cover to catch up with the gang.
    Thanks to Dolly, though, he was hot on their trail. Without her help, it might have taken him another week or two to get the leads he needed to go after the gang. He smiled, impressed by the girl’s bravery in seeking him out and grateful for the information she’d given him.
    After Dolly had left the hotel, Lane had made a visit to the preacher’s small home out behind the church. He’d met with the reverend and given him the money he’d won playing poker to help take care of the injured girl. When he’d taken his leave of Reverend Thompson a short time later, the reverend had agreed to send a telegram for Lane first thing in the morning.
    It was just after eight when the telegraph office opened and Reverend Thompson showed up to send the wire requesting the Texas Rangers send additional men to the Circle D.
    “Willy, I have an important telegram to send,” the preacher told him as he handed over the message.
    Willy read it quickly and looked up at the preacher nervously. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    “I’m sure.” The man of God spoke with conviction.
    Willy just shook his head as he got ready to send the wire. When he was finished, he looked up at the preacher.
    “That’s going to be one wild wedding—”
    “What are you talking about?” Reverend Thompson asked.
    “Before they rode out, one of the gang—I think his name was Seth—Seth Rawlins—Well, he went and ordered himself a mail-order bride to meet him in Bluff Springs. That’s the town nearest the ranch Dan Cooper won in that poker game.”
    “But Seth Rawlins is an